Media player configured to receive playback filters from alternative storage mediums

ABSTRACT

A media player configured with a first removable memory reader, such as a DVD drive, and a second removable memory reader, such as a flash memory reader, adapted to communicate with a removable memory containing filter data. The media player is configured to allow filtered playback of a multimedia presentation, such as a movie. Filtered playbabk causes certain portions of the multimedia presentation to be skipped, muted, blurred, cropped, or otherwise modified to eliminate or reduce potentially objectionable scenes, language, or other content. The second memory reader provides a convenient medium for the loading of filter information, whether data files, executable program code, or the like, to local memory of the media player to employ during filtered playback. Alternatively, the filters may be accessed from the removable storage media during playback rather than loading to local memory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority and is a continuation ofnon-provisional application Ser. No. 13/396,379 titled “Media PlayerConfigured to Receive Playback Filters from Alternative Storage Mediums”filed Feb. 14, 2012, which is a continuation of non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 11/327,103 titled “Media Player Configured toReceive Playback Filters from Alternative Storage Mediums” filed Jan. 5,2006 which claims priority to provisional application No. 60/641,678titled “Video Player Configured to Receive Playback Filters fromAlternative Storage Mediums” filed Jan. 5, 2005, which are herebyincorporated by reference herein.

Application Ser. No. 11/327,103 also claims priority to and is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No.11/256,419 titled “Method and User Interface to Downloading Audio andVideo Content Filters to a Media Player” filed on Oct. 20, 2005, whichclaims priority to provisional application No. 60/620,902 titled “Methodand User Interface for Downloading Audio and Video Content Filters to aMedia Player” filed on Oct. 20, 2004 (the '902 application), which arehereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of modifyingplayback of a multimedia presentation, such as video, from a storagemedium, and more particularly to a medial player, such as a DVD player,configured to upload playback filters to a local memory or otherwise useplayback filters from either a removable storage medium in communicationwith a video memory inference, such as a DVD drive, or a removablememory interface, such as a flash memory interface, USB memoryinterface, memory stick interface, or the like, and apply the filtersto, modify, e.g., skip or mute certain portions of video duringplayback.

BACKGROUND

A multimedia presentation, such as audio provided on CD and a movieprovided on DVD, may contain certain language, images, scenes, or othercontent, not suitable or considered objectionable by certain audiences.To address this concern, certain technologies have been developed toallow filtering, such as skipping or muting, various types of content.This technology allows, for example, the viewing of a movie originallycontaining more adult-oriented content by younger, less mature viewers.Generally, the filtering function is provided by a media content“filter” resident within the DVD player that specifically applies to aparticular multimedia presentation. The filter, which is typicallystored within a nonvolatile logic memory of the media player, such asflash memory, indicates which portions of the multimedia presentationare to be skipped, or which audio portions are to be muted, by the DVDplayer during playback. Typically, whether the filter is employed for aparticular presentation of the multimedia may be determined by the userby way of a menu selection system provided by the media player. Further,different forms of objectionable content, such as profane language,sexually explicit content, and so on, may also be selectively filteredby way of the menu system. In some systems, the filtering system may beprotected by way of a user-defined password so that those not privy tothe password are unable to defeat the filtering mechanism.

Each filter specific to a particular presentation is typically producedat some point after a multimedia presentation has been released. Thus,for example, while some filters for preexisting movies may bepre-installed in the DVD player, the player normally also includes amethod of accepting and storing new filters as they are produced.Typically, filters are installed by way of a CD, DVD, or other discreadable by the same memory reader of the DVD player that also reads theDVD or other storage medium having the multimedia presentation.Therefore, a user inserts the disc containing the filters of interestinto the tray or slot normally employed for playback. The DVD player,recognizing the disc as one containing filters, installs the filtersfrom the disc, possibly at the guidance of the user by way of the playermenu system.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention involves a method for loading filterinformation to a media player. The method involves analyzing a status ofa first memory reader adapted to communicate with a removable storagemedium including data associated with a multimedia presentation. Themethod further involves establishing communication with a second storagemedium and determining whether the second storage medium includesfiltering information associated with a multimedia presentation. Then,filtered play of the presentation may occur.

Another aspect of the invention involves a media player including aprocessing configuration in communication with a first memory reader.The first memory reader configured to receive and read information froma first storage medium including data associated with a multimediapresentation, such as a DVD with encoded audio and video data (e.g., amovie). The media player further comprises a second memory reader, whichalso may be in communication with the processing configuration, thesecond memory reader configured to read filter information from a secondstorage medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features of implementations of the invention can beobtained, a more particular description of the implementations brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understandingthat these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention andare not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, theinvention will be described and explained with additional specificityand detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a media player including a first memoryreader for receiving media information and a second memory reader forreceiving filter information from a removable memory;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating one method for loading filterinformation to a local memory of a media player or otherwise employingfilter information from an alternative storage media;

FIG. 3 is a first menu related to playing a media presentation, e.g., amovie, with filtering applied;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating various classifications of filters andfilter types;

FIG. 5A is a second menu related to loading filter information to alocal memory of a media player or otherwise employing filter informationfrom an alternative storage media;

FIG. 5B is a third menu related to loading filter information to a localmemory of a media player or otherwise employing filter information froman alternative storage media;

FIG. 6 is a fourth menu related to playing a media presentation, e.g., amovie, without filtering;

FIG. 7 is a fifth menu related to identifying and loading filterinformation to a local memory of a media player or otherwise employingfilter information from an alternative storage media; and

FIG. 8 is a sixth menu related to selecting and loading filterinformation to a local memory of a media player or otherwise employingfilter information from an alternative storage media.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention involve methods, systems, apparatus,and computer program products for automatically identifying andfiltering portions of multimedia content. In one implementation, a mediaplayer is configured with at least first and second memory readers,where one or both of the memory readers are configured to receive filterinformation, such as filter data, files, executable code, orcombinations thereof, etc., from removable memory. Such a configurationprovides added flexibility in loading filter information to the mediaplayer or otherwise accessing filtering information, and does notrequire the same memory reader be employed for both play of a multimediapresentation as well as filter access.

In one implementation, the filter information defines selectablefiltering attributes for particular multimedia titles. The filterinformation may be uploaded from the removable memory to an internalmemory of the media player or accessed directly by the media player fromthe removable memory. During display of the multimedia presentation,such as during play of a DVD, the player continually checks the filterinformation to determine if a particular portion of a movie should befiltered.

A broad aspect of the invention involves filtering one or more portionsof a multimedia presentation. Filtering may involve muting objectionablelanguage in a multimedia presentation, skipping past objectionableportions of a multimedia presentation, modifying the presentation of animage or images, which may be a stream of images as in a movie, such asthrough cropping, fading, blurring, or zooming some portion of theimage, or otherwise modifying presentation of the multimediapresentation to eliminate, reduce, or modify the objectionable orunwanted language, images, or other content. Filtering may furtherextend to other content that may be provided in a multimediapresentation, including close captioning text, data links, program guideinformation, etc. One such filtering technology involves a media player,such as a personal computer or DVD player, configured to allow filteredplayback of a movie or other multimedia presentation as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/104,924 titled “Apparatus, System,and Method for Filtering Objectionable Portions of MultimediaPresentation,” filed on Apr. 12, 2005 (the '924 application), which ishereby incorporated by reference herein. Other filter technologiesconfigured to allow filtered playback of a movie or other multimediapresentation are described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/694,873titled “Multimedia Content Navigation and Playback” filed on Oct. 23,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,898,799, which issued May 24, 2005, and U.S.application Ser. No. 09/695,102 titled “Delivery of Navigation Data forPlayback of Audio and Video Content” filed on Oct. 23, 2000, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,889,383 which issued May 3, 2005, which are each incorporatedby reference herein. In accordance with further aspects of the presentinvention, in one particular implementation, the media player isconfigured with the infrastructure to obtain filter information frommore than one removable memory media.

The different types of filtering methods provide different options forthe end-user. For example, to filter profanity an end-user may prefer tomute the audio rather then skipping ahead in both the audio and video.Alternatively, an end—user may prefer that if there is ever an option toeither mute the audio or skip ahead in the movie to always skip ahead.Similarly, to filter violence an end-user may prefer to blur the videoor some portion of the video, rather than skipping ahead or cropping theimage. Alternatively, an end-user may prefer that if there is ever anoption to either skip ahead in the movie or crop, to always crop. Thesealternative settings may be implemented on a filter by filter typebasis, or as part of recommended filter settings.

In yet another alternative, the user may rely on a recommendation of atype of filtering on an event by event basis. For example, for event 1,there may be a recommendation of “muting” and for event 2 there may be arecommendation of “cropping” the picture. User selection of recommendedfilter settings may be solicited when there are various possiblefiltering actions set forth with any particular filter type or portionof a media presentation. In one example, when recommended filtersettings are defined, a flag may be provided next to the recommendfiltering method for each event. In one example, skipping may berecommended over muting or beeping. In the same example, if the userwere to select the recommended settings, then the portion of the mediabetween the start and end would be skipped.

In another alternative, recommended filter settings may be provided. Arecommended filter setting may be created. Creation or definition of arecommended filter setting or settings may be performed from a computerimplemented method or may be manually generated. There are numerousbasis on which to create recommended filter settings. For example,recommended filter settings may be made globally, on a genre basis, on aspecific movie or other specific multimedia title basis, on an actor,director, studio, or producer basis, on a date basis, on a viewer basis,and to effectively change a conventional rating for a particular movietitle. Further, recommended filter settings may apply to a subgroupingof all filter types or may apply to all available filters.

By way of example, filtering technology is described herein withreference to the filtering technology set forth in the '924 application.However, various aspects of the present invention are not limited toapplication in a platform conforming to the '924 application. Rather,aspects of the present invention are applicable to any platform, mediaplayer or otherwise, that allows or facilitates filtering or otherwisemodifying play of a movie or other form of multimedia presentation.

Creation or definition of a recommended filter setting or settings maybe performed from a computer implemented method or may be manuallygenerated. There are numerous basis on which to create recommendedfilter settings. For example, recommended filter settings may be madeglobally, on a genre basis, on a specific movie or other specificmultimedia title basis, on an actor, director, studio, or producerbasis, on a date basis, on a viewer basis, and to effectively change aconventional rating for a particular movie title. Further, recommendedfilter settings may apply to a subgrouping of all filter types or mayapply to all available filters.

Recommended filter settings, in one particular implementation, apply tothe filter files in a filter table for a particular multimediapresentation. For example, the filter table for the movie Gladiator maycontain some total number filter files, say 400, corresponding with 400portions of the film that contain one or more of the various filtertypes. After application of the recommended filter settings, unless allfilter types are activated, some number less than 400 filter files willbe activated. It is also possible to create custom filter files for aparticular movie such that the recommended filter settings do notactivate or deactivate filter files in filter table, but rather a customfilter table is generated with active filter files.

In the example of a recommended filter setting for a particular movietitle, such as Gladiator, the basis for the recommended filter settingsmay take into account any possible factor or combination of factors. Forexample, recommended filter settings for a particular movie title may bedefined with the knowledge that the film is largely sexual in nature,including numerous scenes with sensual content, crude sexual content,nudity, and explicit sexual situations. A person aware of the strongsexual nature of the film will make subjective decision as to which ofthe sex and nudity type filters to activate that will not beobjectionable to a typical person not wanting to be generally exposed tosex and nudity while still presenting the movie in an entertaining andcoherent manner. The generation of recommended filter settings may beundertaken in an iterative manner, with a user activating anddeactivating certain filter combinations, watching the movie, andfinally settling on a particular combination of active and deactivatedfilter setting of an overall recommended filter setting for the movie.

With the same movie of a strong sexual nature, or any other movie,algorithmically, recommended filter settings may be made based on anynumber of factors. For example, a computer may analyze the filter table(filter files) for a particular movie title to determine the numberand/or length (time) of each instance of a particular type of filter.Based on this determination, recommended filter settings may beautomatically generated. For example, in a movie containing 20 instancesof sensual content, five instances of crude sexual content, 30 instancesof nudity, and four instances of explicit sexual situations, a computermay establish recommended filter settings by application of thresholds.An example of thresholds within sex and nudity filter grouping mightinclude: sensual content filter “on” (active) if less than 10 instances,crude sexual content filter “on” if less than 10 instances, nudityfilter “on” if less than 10 instances, and explicit sexual situationfilter “on” if less than 10 instances. Applying these thresholds to theabove example movie, the recommended filter settings will includedeactivating the sensual content and nudity filters (each have less than10 instances) and activating the crude sexual content and explicitsexual situations filters (each have greater than 10 instances) byapplication of thresholds.

As set forth above, numerous different methodologies and approaches maybe employed to define recommended filters settings. Additionally, asintroduced above, recommended filters settings may be defined on variousbasis, of which the following examples are not exhaustive. First, aglobal recommended filter setting applies at any time filtered playbackis selected, irrespective of the particular multimedia title. Forexample, in a DVD player configured to allow filtered play of movies onDVD, when filtering is activated, the recommended filter settings willbe applied to any DVD movie being played, irrespective of the particularmovie title. Thus, Gladiator will be played with the same filtersettings as The Matrix or Sleepless in Seattle.

Second, genre based recommended filter settings will apply to anymultimedia title of a particular genre. For example, a recommendedfilter setting may be available for sci-fi movies, action movies, G, PG,PG-13, R, NR, and X movies, etc. The various recommended filter settingsmay be the same or different, but are nonetheless selected based on thegenre. In such an instance, the genre for any particular multimediatitle is either identified automatically or by way of user input.Automatic genre definition may be achieved by comparing identifyingindicia, such as a DVD movie title, encoded MPAA rating information,etc., to a look-up table stored or otherwise loaded to the media player,the table mapping or otherwise relating particular multimedia titles toa genre. It is also possible for a user to manually select a genrerecommended filter setting to apply to a different genre; thus, forexample, a user may choose to apply the recommended filter settings foran action movie to a sci-fi movie.

Third, recommended filter settings may be applied on a movie by moviebasis. Thus, each movie or other multimedia title has its ownrecommended filters settings. Fourth, recommended filter settings may beapplied on the basis of some aspect of a movie besides its rating ortitle, such as actors, directors, studio producing the film, producers,date of the film, etc. Finally, recommended filter settings may beestablished on a user basis. Such user specific recommended filtersettings would be useful for a parent to establish a filter setting fora child. User specific filter settings might also be coordinated with auser/password log-in requirement such that the child must log-in to thesystem to watch a movie and the pre-established recommended filtersettings will automatically apply.

With respect particularly to DVD-based audiovisual presentations, suchas audio and video, typically, some types of DVD can hold a full-lengthfilm with up to 133 minutes of high quality audio and video compressedor encoded, such as through a Moving Picture Experts Group (“MPEG”)coding formats. One advantage of the particular filtering platformdescribed in the '924 application, is that it does not require anymodification or alteration of the formatting of the presentation inorder for filtering to occur. Stated another way, to perform filtering,the presentation need not be preformatted and stored on the DVD with anyparticular separate information related to the language or type ofimages being delivered at any point in the presentation. Rather,filtering involves monitoring existing time codes of multimedia dataread from the DVD or closely tracking the timing of the presentation. Asdescribed in greater detail below, a filter file or event includes atime code corresponding to a portion of the multimedia data that isintended to be skipped or muted. A match between a time code of aportion of the multimedia presentation read from a DVD with a time codein the filter file, causes the execution of a filtering action, such asa mute or a skip. It is also possible to monitor other indicia of themultimedia data read from the DVD, such as indicia of the physicallocation on a memory media from which the data was read.

Until the mute, time seek (skip) or other filtering action is executed,the DVD player reads the multimedia information from the DVD duringconventional sequential play of the multimedia presentation. Thus, theoperations associated with a play command on the DVD are executed. Theplay command causes the read-write head to sequentially read portions ofthe video from the DVD. As used herein, the term “sequential” is meantto refer to the order of data that corresponds to the order of amultimedia presentation. The multimedia data, however, may be physicallylocated on a memory media in a non-sequential manner. Moreover, MPEGcoding may involve non-linear access to certain types of data for properdecoding and display. Typically, the multimedia information read fromthe DVD is stored in a buffer. From the buffer, the MPEG codedmultimedia information is decoded prior to display on a monitor,television, or the like. The buffer allows the system to maintain afairly constant decoding rate so that the presentation of the movie isnot negatively affected from processing, or retrieval, or otherlatencies. A buffer may not be necessary depending on the retrievalspeed, decoding speed, and other factors.

In one aspect, the time code for the multimedia information read from amemory media and stored in a memory buffer is compared to filter filesin a filter table. A filter table is a collection of one or more filterfiles, also referred to as a filter or event, for a particularmultimedia presentation. A filter file is an identification of a portionof a multimedia presentation and a corresponding filtering action. Eachfilter file may be identified by or otherwise associated with one ormore filter types, such as Strong Action Violence or Brutal/Goryviolence filter types. The portion of the multimedia presentation may beidentified by a start (or interrupt) and end time (or resume code), bystart and end physical locations on a memory media, by a time orlocation and an offset value (time, distance, physical location, or acombination thereof, etc.). Within a filter table for a particularpresentation, a user may activate any combination of filter files or nofilter files. Further, as set forth in the U.S. provisional patentapplication titled “Apparatus, System and Method for Creation, Deliveryand Utilization of Recommended Filter Settings,” filed on the same dayas this application 60/756,905 , which is hereby incorporated byreference herein, some combinations of filter types may be recommended,preselected, or preset. Creation or definition of a recommended filtersetting or settings may be performed from a computer implemented methodor may be manually generated. There are numerous bases on which tocreate recommended filter settings. For example, recommended filtersettings may be made globally, on a genre basis, on a specific movie orother specific multimedia title basis, on an actor, director, studio, orproducer basis, on a date basis, on a viewer basis, and to effectivelychange a conventional rating for a particular movie title. A globalrecommended filter setting applies at any time filter playback isselected, irrespective of the particular multimedia title. For anexample of filtering generally, for the film “Gladiator,” the StrongAction Violence filter may be deactivated and the Brutal/Gory Violencefilter activated. Thus, some or all portions of the movie associatedwith a Strong Action Violence filter type will be shown while some orall portions of the movie associated with a Brutal/Gory violence filtertype will be skipped or otherwise filtered.

In some instances, a particular filter type may only be partiallysupported. For example, there may be ten instances in a movie associatedwith strong action violence. However, filtering (e.g. skipping) one ofthe instances may alter the movie in such a manner that some importantaspect would no longer make sense. In such a situation, the one instanceis shown despite actuation of the strong action violence filter.Typically, the user is provided with a warning of some sort.

Table 1 below provides two examples of filter files for the movie“Gladiator”. The filter types set forth in Table 1 are similar, but notthe same, as other examples of filter types set forth herein. As setforth in further detail below, a filter table for a particularmultimedia presentation may be provided as a data file or other dataarrangement, a set of instructions, or a combination thereof, on aremovable memory media, in the same memory media as the multimediapresentation, or otherwise loaded into the memory of a multimedia playerconfigured to operate in accordance with aspects of the invention.

TABLE 1 Filter Table with example of two Filter Files for the FilmGladiator Filter Filter Start End Filter Codes (Event) (Interrupt)(Resume) Duration Action (Types) 1 00:04:15:19 00:04:48:26 997 Skip2:V-D-D, V-D-G 2 00:04:51:26 00:04:58:26 210 Skip 1:V-D-G

Referring to Table 1, the first filter file (1) has a start time of00:04:15:19 (hour:minute:second:frame) and an end time of 00:04:48:26.The first filter file further has a duration of 997 frames and is a“skip” type filtering action (as opposed to mute or other filteringaction). Finally, the first filter file is associated with two filtertypes. The first filter type is identified as “V-D-D”, which is a filtercode for a violent (V) scene in which a dead (D) or decomposed (D) bodyis shown. The second filter type is identified as “V-D-G”, which is afilter code for a violent (V) scene associated with disturbing (D)and/or gruesome (G) imagery and/or dialogue. Implementations of thepresent invention may include numerous other filter types. Duringfiltered playback of the film “Gladiator,” if the “V-D-D”, “V-D-G,” orboth filter files are activated, the 997 frames falling between00:04:15:19 and 00:04:48:26 are skipped (not shown). Additionally, ifthe V-D-G filter file is activated, the 210 frames falling between00:04:51:26 and 00:04:58:26 are skipped.

Table 2 below provides one example of various possible filter typesconforming to one particular embodiment of the present invention. Otherfilter types, quantities of filter types, etc., may be implemented invarious embodiments conforming to aspects of the present invention.

TABLE 2 Filter Types and Associated Description of Content of Scene foreach Filter Type Filter Filter Code Classification Filter type FilterAction V-S-A Violence Strong Action Violence Removes excessive violence,including fantasy violence V-B-G Violence Brutal/Gory Violence Removesbrutal and graphic violence scenes V-D-I Violence Disturbing ImagesRemoves gruesome and other disturbing images S-S-C Sex and NuditySensual Content Removes highly suggestive and provocative situations anddialogue S-C-S Sex and Nudity Crude Sexual Content Removes crude sexuallanguage and gestures S-N Sex and Nudity Nudity Removes nudity,including partial and art nudity S-E-S Sex and Nudity Explicit SexualSituation Removes explicit sexual dialogue, sound and actions L-V-DLanguage Vain Reference to Deity Removes vain or irreverent reference toDeity L-C-L Language Crude Language and Humor Removes crude sexuallanguage and gestures L-E-S Language Ethnic and Social Slurs Removesethnically or socially offensive results L-C Language Cursing Removesprofane uses of “h*II” and “d*mn” L-S-P Language Strong ProfanityRemoves swear words, including strong profanities L-G-V Language GraphicVulgarity Removes graphic vulgarities, including “f***” O-E-D OtherExplicit Drug Use Removes descriptive scences of illegal drug use

Table 2 provides a list of examples of filter types that may be providedindividually or in combination in an embodiment conforming to theinvention. The filter types are grouped into four broad classifications,including: Violence, Sex/Nudity, Language, and Other. Within each of thefour broad classifications, are a listing of particular filter typesassociated with each broad classification. In a filter table for aparticular multimedia presentation, various time sequences (between astart time and an end time) of a multimedia presentation may beidentified as containing subject matter falling within one or more ofthe filter types. In one particular implementation, multimedia timesequences may be filtered as a function of a particular filter type,e.g., V-S-A. Alternatively, or additionally, multimedia time sequencesmay be filtered as a function of a broad classification, e.g., V, inwhich case all portions of a multimedia presentation falling within abroad filter classification will be skipped or muted.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a media player 10, such as a DVD player,configured with two removable memory interfaces, according to one aspectof the present invention. The media player may be a standalone unit withsome form of output for driving a display of some sort, such as amonitor or television, or may be integrated within a monitor,television, etc. A media player includes conventional electronics, suchas one or more processors and related circuitry, configured to play amovie stored on or in accordance with DIVX MPEG-4, XVID, DVD (DVD-ROM,DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL, single sided, doublesided, layered, etc.), SVCD, VCD, CD-DA, CD-R, CD-RW, or other videostorage/playback platforms. In one particular implementation, the mediaplayer includes a tray 12 or slot that is configured to receive a moviestorage medium and position the storage medium 14 over the appropriateread interface, such as a laser positioned to read data from the DVDduring playback. The media player also includes various control inputs16, such as play, stop, pause, fast forward, rewind, and the like typesof buttons, configured to provide an interface by which a user canoperate the player. The media player may also be controlled through aremote control unit as well as on screen menus accessible andcontrollable through the remote control unit. Additionally, the mediaplayer includes a removable storage medium (“RSM”) reader or interface18. The RSM reader is adapted to receive a removable memory 20 orotherwise establish communication with a removable memory and read orotherwise access the information stored thereon. Examples of possibleremovable memory include memory devices broadly referred to as memorycards and memory sticks, USB flash drives and jump drives, laser oroptical readable memory platforms (e.g., CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R,DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM), magnetic memory platforms, and other forms ofremovable memory.

Generally speaking, one or more filter tables pertaining to one or moremovie titles or other multimedia may be uploaded to player memory fromeither a removable memory loaded into the tray or a removable memoryloaded into the RSM reader or otherwise in communication with the RSMreader. In one example, a filter table for a particular movie title isstored from the removable memory in local memory of the player, such asflash memory, random access memory of various types, etc., for readyaccess during presentation of the multimedia. It is also possible toaccess a filter table or other form of filter information directly fromthe removable memory media during presentation. In one example, sincethe tray is used to load a DVD containing the movie, a separateremovable memory medium, including one or more filter tables, loadedinto the tray must be removed before play of the movie, unless thefilter table is included with the DVD containing the movie. In contrast,removable memory connected with the RSM reader may be accessed at anytime, regardless of the presence or absence of a DVD in the tray andregardless of whether a movie is being played.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating one method for the media player 10 toobtain one or more filter tables or other filtering data or files from aremovable memory media. First, the media player detects the presence ofa removable memory media placed in communication with the RSM reader(operation 100). Next, the media player (e.g., the CPU or otherprocessor or processing arrangement in the media player) determineswhether the removable memory has a filter table or other form offiltering information stored thereon (operation 110). Upon detection offilter information, the media player facilitates filtered play of apresentation (operation 120).

Table 3 illustrates various actions taken by a particular DVD playerimplementation of a media player 10 to upload a filter table or otherfilter from alternative storage sources, or to take other actions basedupon the status of the DVD drive 12, the RSM reader 18, the presence orabsence of filter data, and actions of the user. Each line (A-J) inTable 3 represents various possible scenarios of combinations of the DVDdrive status, the RSM reader status, the internal DVD player flashmemory status, and a user action. Depending on the combination variousactions may be taken by the player. The examples set forth with respectto Table 3 refer to a DVD drive and a RSM reader in the form of auniversal serial bus port; however, these examples merely refer to oneparticular implementation and may or may not be employed in otherconfigurations. Moreover, these or other functions may be employed inother media players. In one particular example, filter tables arecollectively stored in a computer file with a “.CPF” or other uniqueextension or file type identifier. The media player is configured toscan the removable memory for the presence of any data file with anextension associated with filter information.

Depending on any particular implementation, it may be necessary todelete existing files in local memory or otherwise ensure there issufficient local memory space for loading at least one filter table inorder for filtered play. The '902 application referenced above,describes implementations for determining and obtaining sufficient localmemory space, some or all of which, directly or with slightmodification, may be employed in various media player implementations.

TABLE 3 DVD Drive RSM Reader Player Status Status Flash Status UserAction Result A Empty n/a Matching filter stored User inserts DVD Go toFIG. 3 in player for DVD X X in player B Empty n/a Matching filter onUser inserts DVD Go to FIG. 5A master index for X in player (note item6) DVD X but filter not actually stored C Empty n/a Matching filter forUser inserts DVD Go to FIG. 6 DVD X not found in X in player masterindex D DVD not in Empty n/a User inserts USB Go to FIG. 7 playbackdrive that only mode contains 1 cpf file and no other files E DVD not inEmpty n/a User inserts USB Open directory of playback drive that hassupported file types. If mode several different the user selects a .cpffiles file then go to FIG. 7 F DVD in drive Empty n/a User inserts USBStop playback and go to and in drive scenario D or E playback mode G DVDin drive USB Docked n/a User removes No action and in USB drive playbackmode H User Interface USB Docked n/a User removes Go to DVD player inUSB menu USB drive Main Menu I User Interface USB Docked n/a Userremoves No action in any menu USB drive except USB menu J n/aInformation n/a User removes Return to previous being USB drivemenu/state before accessed from USB was inserted USB

Now, with reference to Table 3, row A illustrates the action taken bythe media player 10 when the DVD drive 12 is empty, and the user insertsa DVD into the DVD drive. The DVD player checks the title of the moviestored on the DVD 16 and determines that a matching filter table existsin player memory. The status of the USB drive 18 in this scenario isirrelevant. Upon detection of a matching movie filter, the DVD playercauses display of the menu screen 22 shown in FIG. 3. Through a remotecontrol or the interface components supported on the front face of theplayer, the user may select “Normal Play” 24, “Filtered Play” 26, and“Filter Details” 28 menu buttons. Selecting Normal Play, will cause themovie to be played without any filtering. Selecting Filtered Play willfacilitate playback of the movie with filtering applied. The '924application describes various operations and details involved withfacilitating filtered play. Note, tables are set forth adjacent thevarious menus described herein. The tables illustrate actions takendepending on receipt of various control commands.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating various possible filterclassifications 30, like shown in Table 1 (e.g., violence, sex andnudity, language, and other) along with individual filter types 32within each class (strong action violence, brutal/gory violence, anddisturbing violence in the violence setting). Generally speaking, forany movie title in which a filter table has been developed and it isaccessible by the media player, e.g., stored in local memory or in aremovable memory, the user may activate any particular individual filtertype or types (e.g., strong action violence and brutal/gory violence)and any portions of the movie associated with the filter type will befiltered, e.g., muted, skipped, cropped, or faded, during play.

Through the Filter Details button 28, the user may view all filtersavailable in flash memory or all filters in a master index of allfilters available for uploading, but not necessarily already present inflash memory of the DVD player. Generally, the master index provides alist of films for which media content filters (filter tables) arecurrently available. A current master index may be loaded to playermemory whenever the player loads new filtering information or otherwiseestablishes communication with a removable memory with filterinformation. In an embodiment conforming to aspects of media player setforth in the '902 application, it also possible to update the masterindex pursuant to network connectivity. In addition, a list of moviesfor which a filter will never be generated is also supplied. Many moviesand similar presentations do not realistically contain any objectivelyobjectionable content. For example, many G-rated (General Audience)children's movies do not contain any sexual, violent or profane materialthat warrant being skipped or muted by a media content filter. If nofilter will even be produced for the disc in question, then a displaymenu may be provided indicating that no filter is available. The menuwill also likely allow the user to select the Normal Play option to playthe disc without a filter.

If the disc content is the potential target of a filter, the mediaplayer checks the master index to determine if such a filter isavailable for loading. If the master index indicates that the filter isnot available, the player then determines whether the master index hasbeen updated recently from the filter provider. Updating of the masterindex may be considered recent if it has occurred, for example, withinthe last twelve hours. In other embodiments, an update may be consideredrecent only if it has occurred within the last few minutes or hours, orwithin the last few days or weeks. If the information in the masterindex is considered up-to-date, the media player may present a displaymenu to indicate that a filter is not available, and to allow the userto play the DVD without content filtering.

If the master index indicates that a filter associated with the loadeddisc is available, or if the master index has not been updated recently,the DVD player may be configured to determine whether there issufficient available memory for an additional filter table. If there isinsufficient memory, then the user may be prompted through an on-screenmenu arrangement to select movie titles for which associated filtertables will be deleted from memory to allow for storage of new filtertables.

Referring again to Table 3, row B illustrates the action taken by themedia player 10 when the DVD drive 12 is empty, and the user inserts aDVD 16 in the DVD drive, but a matching filter table file is not storedin the flash memory of the DVD, but is listed in the master index. Upondetection of this scenario, the DVD player causes display of the menu 34shown in FIG. 5A. Here, the user has the option of playing the movieback without filtering by selecting Normal Play, or the user may uploadthe filter data for the movie title by selecting a Filtered Play button.The status of the RSM drive 18, upon insertion of the DVD, isirrelevant. If Filtered Play is selected and the user inserts aremovable memory 20 into the RSM drive, the DVD player detects thepresence of the memory and checks to determine whether the memory hasfilter data (e.g., one or more “.CPF” files) containing a filter tablefor the movie title present in the DVD. If so, the DVD player uploadsthe filter data to local memory of the DVD player and produces a seriesof menus prompting the user to activate various filter types.

If a removable memory is not in the RSM drive when the Filtered Playbutton is selected, the menu screen 36 of FIG. 5B is shown, and the useris prompted, through an onscreen message, to load filter data for themovie on the DVD. The user may load a DVD 16 with the filter data intothe DVD reader 12 or the user may load a removable memory 20 containingthe filter data into the RSM reader 18. In either scenario, the playerwill search the inserted memory medium for the appropriate filter dataand upload it to local memory. As mentioned above, the player may alsocommunicate with the filter data on the memory media rather than uploadit to local memory. If the appropriate movie filter data is not present,the user will be prompted with an onscreen message.

Referring again to Table 3, row C illustrates the action taken by themedia player when the DVD drive is empty, the user inserts a DVD intothe DVD drive, and a matching filter file is not present in local memoryor listed in the master index. In this scenario, the media player 10displays the menu screen 38 of FIG. 6. The menu 38 highlights the NormalPlay button 24, which if selected facilitates normal, i.e., unfiltered,playback of the movie. If the user scrolls down to the Filtered Playbutton 26 and selects it, the user is prompted to load a memory (e.g.,DVD or USB memory) containing the appropriate filter data as discussedabove with regard to FIGS. 5A and 5B. It is possible that filter data(e.g., a filter table) has been developed for the movie title, but isnot present in the master index of the DVD player. Each time new filterdata is uploaded to local memory, the master index is updated with acomplete listing of all filter tables available at that time. Thus, ifit has been some time since the filter data was uploaded to localmemory, the master index may not reflect all available movie filters.

Row D illustrates the action taken by the media player 10 when a DVD 16is inserted in the DVD drive 12, but playback has not begun, and the RSMreader 18 is empty. In this scenario, a user inserts a memory 20 intothe RSM reader. The memory has a file containing filter data, such as a.CPF file, but contains no other files/folders, data, etc. The file mayhave a filter table for one particular movie title, or media filtertables for many different movie titles. Upon insertion of the memoryinto the drive, the media player displays the menu screen 40 of FIG. 7.The screen has three selection options, “Main Menu” 42, “New Releases”44, and “All Movies” 46. Selection of the Main Menu button 44 returnsthe user to a main menu. Selection of the New Releases button displaysall movie titles for recently developed filter tables on the memory andthe All Movies button selects all movie titles with a filter table inthe memory. To upload filters to internal player memory, the userselects either the New Releases or All Movies button, and is presentedwith a screen that lists movie filters associated with the button. Oneexample of such a filter table listing selection menu 48 is shown inFIG. 8. By scrolling up or down the movie title list 50, the user mayselect any of the movie filters listed and upload the filters to flashmemory of the DVD player, subject to memory availability. At a minimum,the user selects the particular filter for the movie they would like toplay. Scrolling up or down the list highlights individual movie filtersfor which the screen also includes other details concerning thehighlighted movie filter, such as the number of DVD releases for themovie, a description of the highlighted release, the aspect ratio of therelease, the language of the movie, the date the filter was created, andthe catalog number.

Still referring to Table 3, row E illustrates the action taken by themedia player when a DVD is inserted in the DVD drive, but playback hasnot begun, and the RSM reader is empty. In this scenario, a user insertsa memory 20 into the RSM reader 18, but instead of one file with filterdata, the memory has more than one file, which may be two or more filterfiles or other file types (e.g., .JPG, .DOC, etc.). The DVD playersearches the list of files to determine whether any files containingfilter data are present. In one example, all files with filter data havea .CPF extension, and all such files are displayed for the user. Afterthe user selects a .CPF file, control is passed to the screen 48 of FIG.8 for the user to select particular movie filters to upload to flashmemory.

Row F illustrates the action taken by the media player 10 when a DVD isplaying, and the RSM reader 18 is empty. In this scenario, a userinserts a memory 20 into the RSM reader causing playback to stop. Then,depending on whether one CPF file is present or multiple files arepresent, control is passed to either the screen of FIG. 7 or theoperations associated with Row E occur, respectively.

Row G illustrates the action taken by the media player when a DVD isplaying, and the RSM reader has a memory installed and the memory isremoved during playback. In this scenario, no action is taken, i.e., themovie continues to play.

Row H illustrates the action taken by the media player when a memory isinserted in the RSM reader and the user is working with a screen forselecting movie title filters, e.g., the screen of FIG. 7 or 8. If thememory is removed, the video player exits the filter screen and displaysthe DVD player main menu screen.

Row I illustrates the action taken by the media player 10 when a memory20 is in the RSM reader 18, but the user is working in some screen,besides a filter selection screen, and the user removes the memory. Insuch a scenario, the media player maintains the state the player is in,and takes no action based upon the removal of the memory.

Finally, Row J illustrates the action taken by the media player wheninformation is being accessed from a memory in the RSM reader and thememory is removed during the accessing. In such a scenario, the mediaplayer returns to the state immediately proceeding the action ofdownloading. For example, if the user was acting in the screen of FIG. 8to select various filters for uploading, and had initiated uploading,control is returned to the screen of FIG. 8. The user may be promptedwith a message indicating that uploading was interrupted by removal ofthe memory.

Disclosed herein are various aspects of a media player and relatedmethod for loading media content filters to a media player by way of aremovable memory media. While the disclosed embodiments are described inspecific terms, other embodiments encompassing principles of theinvention are also possible. Also, while specific examples of menuspresented to the user have been provided, many other ways of presentingthe same or related information may be employed to the same end.Further, while specific examples particularly discuss a DVD player,other types of media players capable of displaying movies and othermedia presentations, may also be utilized within the scope of theinvention.

Throughout the application, reference is made to integrated local filterstorage memory of the media player. While such memory is ordinarilythought of as memory permanently installed on a printed circuit board ofthe player, the removable storage media may also be used to store thefilters employed by the player. For example, memory sticks, USB sticks,removable flash memory, and the like, connectable to the RSM reader ofthe player accessible by the user, may be employed to similar end. As aresult, the removable storage medium may be coupled with a home computerof the user. The user may then download the filters over the Internetfrom the filter provider, storing those filters into the removablestorage medium. The medium could then be removed from the home computer,and connected to the media player by way of the RSM interface of theplayer designed for the medium, such as a USB port. The player couldthen access the filters for use in filtering the content of the DVDsassociated with those filters. It is also possible to obtain theremovable memory media containing filter information by other means,such as mail order, from a movie outlet, or on the same memory as themedia.

Further, operations and menus are presented in one particular order. Theorder, however, is but one example of the way that operations and menusmay be provided. Operations and menus may be rearranged, modified, oreliminated in any particular implementation while still conforming toaspects of the invention.

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer programproducts for automatically identifying and filtering portions ofmultimedia content during the decoding process. A media playerconforming to aspects of the present invention may include a specialpurpose or general purpose computer including various computer hardware,a television system, an audio system, and/or combinations of theforegoing. In all cases, the described embodiments should be viewed aexemplary of the present invention rather than as limiting it's scope.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention also includecomputer readable media for carrying or having computer-executableinstructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readablemedia may be any available media that can be accessed by a generalpurpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,DVD, CD ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used tocarry or store desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions or data structures and which can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. Wheninformation is transferred or provided over a network or anothercommunications link or connection (either hardwired, wireless, or acombination of hardwired or wireless) to a computer, the computerproperly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, anysuch a connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media. Computer-executable instructions comprise, forexample, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer,special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device toperform a certain function or group of functions.

We claim:
 1. A method for accessing filter information comprising: in amedia player in communication with a storage medium including dataassociated with a multimedia presentation, determining whether a secondstorage medium includes filtering information associated with themultimedia presentation, the filter information associated with at leastone portion of the multimedia presentation, the filter informationfurther associated with at least one skip filtering action or at leastone mute filtering action for the at least one portion of the associatedmultimedia presentation, the filter information further associated withat least one preset recommendation, the at least one presetrecommendation based on a unique identifier of the entirety of themultimedia presentation, for either automatic activation or deactivationof the at least one skip filtering action or the at least one mutefiltering action during presentation of the multimedia presentationwithout requiring a selection by a user to activate or deactivate the atleast one skip filtering action or the at least one mute filteringaction; providing for the presentation of the multimedia presentation tothe automatic activation or deactivation of the filtering informationassociated with the at least one portion of the multimedia presentation.2. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage medium is a removablememory adapted for communication with a flash memory reader.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 wherein the flash memory reader is selected from agroup consisting of a universal serial bus port, a multimedia cardreader, an SD card reader, and a compact flash card reader.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the multimedia presentation comprises a movie.5. The method of claim 4 wherein the multimedia presentation comprises amovie stored on an optical storage medium.
 6. The method of claim 4wherein the filter information comprises at least one identification ofa start time and end time associated with a portion of the movie alongwith a filtering action.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the filteringaction comprises at least one of blurring and cropping.
 8. The method ofclaim 4 wherein the filter information comprises at least oneidentification of a start location and an end location associated with aportion of the movie along with a filtering action.
 9. The method ofclaim 6 further comprising a content identifier.
 10. The method of claim9 wherein the content identifier is selected from a group consisting ofviolence, sex and nudity, language, and other.
 11. The method of claim 1wherein the multimedia presentation comprises encoded video and audiodata.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the multimedia presentationcomprises motion pictures expert group encoded video and audio data. 13.The method of claim 1 further comprising loading the filteringinformation from the second storage medium into a local memory.
 14. Themethod of claim 13 further comprising providing for selectively loadingthe filtering information from the second storage medium into the localmemory.
 15. The method of claim 13 further comprising determiningwhether there is sufficient space in the local memory.
 16. The method ofclaim 1 wherein providing for presentation of the multimediapresentation pursuant to the filtering information further comprisesreading the filtering information from the second storage medium. 17.The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing a master index on thesecond storage medium, the master index providing a list of allmultimedia presentations which have associated filtering information.18. The method of claim 1 wherein the recommended filter settingcomprises a recommendation of which filtering action to use when thefiltering information for an associated portion of the multimediapresentation is associated with both a skip action and a mute action.19. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the at least onepreset recommendation of the filtering information as a default filterconfiguration for the multimedia presentation.
 20. The method of claim1, further comprising selecting the preset recommendation of thefiltering information as a globally-applied recommendation for aplurality of multimedia presentations.
 21. The method of claim 1,wherein the unique identifier of the multimedia presentation is one ofgenre, a title, an actor, or a date.
 22. A media player comprising: aprocessing configuration in communication with a first memory readerconfigured to receive and read information from a first storage mediumincluding data associated with a multimedia presentation; the processingconfiguration in communication with at least one second memory readerconfigured to read filter information from a second storage medium, thefilter information associated with at least one portion of themultimedia presentation and with at least one skip filtering action orone mute filtering action for the at least one associated portion of themultimedia presentation, the filter information further associated withat least one preset recommendation, the at least one presetrecommendation based on a unique identifier of the entirety of themultimedia presentation, for either automatic activation or deactivationof the at least one skip filtering action or the at least one mutefiltering action during play of the multimedia presentation withoutrequiring a selection by a user to activate or deactivate the at leastone skip filtering action or the at least one mute filtering action;during the play of the multimedia presentation, the processingconfiguration applying the automatic activation or deactivation of themute filtering action or the skip filtering action to the associatedportion of the multimedia presentation pursuant to the at least onepreset recommendation of the filtering information.
 23. The media playerof claim 22 wherein the second memory reader is selected from at least agroup comprising a universal serial bus port, a multimedia card reader,an SD card reader, and compact flash card reader.
 24. A method foraccessing filter information comprising: in a media player incommunication with a storage medium including data associated with amultimedia presentation, determining whether a second storage mediumincludes filtering information associated with the multimediapresentation, the filter information further associated with a pluralityof filtering actions, the filter information further associated with arecommended subset of the plurality of filtering actions for themultimedia presentation, the recommended subset of the plurality offiltering actions based on a unique identifier of the entirety of themultimedia presentation; providing for presentation of the multimediapresentation pursuant to the filtering information; and automaticallyapplying at least a portion of the recommended subset of the pluralityof filtering actions to the multimedia presentation without requiring aselection by a user to activate or deactivate the at least one skipfiltering action or the at least one mute filtering action.
 25. Themethod of claim 24, further comprising activating each of the pluralityof filtering actions based on the applied portion of the recommendedsubset of the plurality of filtering actions for the multimediapresentation.
 26. The method of claim 24, further comprisingdeactivating each of the plurality of filtering actions based on theapplied portion of the recommended subset of the plurality of filteringactions for the multimedia presentation.
 27. The method of claim 24,further comprising: altering the recommended subset of the plurality offiltering actions for the multimedia presentation prior to applying theportion of the recommended subset.